CNN iReport

Inspired by the story, The Emperor Has No Clothes, this is an artistic commentary on the powers and policies that led us into the Iraq war. The painting is large, 6 ½ feet tall by 8 ½ feet wide, colorful, and moving. The Artist, Steve Roberts, who is becoming known for powerful and moving composition in his art, says there are many symbolisms used to depict the philosophy that ‘language matters'. Roberts states, "That the politician (President George Bush) is standing on the flag can represent both his use of patriotism as well as his soiling or disrespecting the values and ideals that many consider to be the heart of being American." "The use of the September 12, 2001 issue of the Washington Post as a megaphone represents the use of all media to alter the public discourse, liberal or conservative, and that reference to the September 11 attacks were used to invoke fear, anger, and patriotism. The president points and speaks. His words become a spew of discourse, including the fear of weapons of mass destruction or WMDs, pervading the atmosphere, creating a climate conducive for war." "Behind the president are symbols representing support collaboration with fundamentalist Christianity, those supporting Zionism, and those espousing patriotism, while the oil derricks, which support the platform and seemed to hold such promise, produce no oil." "Mountain of coffins holding the remains of American soldiers, Iraqi soldiers, insurgents, and civilians create a pyramid like edifice that seems to support continuation of the war. After all, "Let us not let the lives of American soldiers or innocent civilians go to waste. While the blood of the lives lost become streams, comingling, such that who knows which blood is which, that becomes the crimson of the stripes of the American flag." "Two women, representing those in Iraq and those from the west who have lost loved ones to the fight, look as if in prayer, asking heaven, "Why?" as if the question should be asked of God rather than among those exercising the power and creating the policy and discourse." "The piece took me nine months to complete and can be viewed in my studio in Rockland, ME," Roberts added. He can be contacted via email at srr@greatbigidea.com, by phone at 586-530-6406, or by his website at http://www.steverobertsart.com/.